Motion picture camera and cassette system

ABSTRACT

A motion picture camera and cassette system is provided having at least one motion picture camera and several film cassettes containing an exposed and/or unexposed motion picture film. The film cassettes contain a storage device which stores at least the length of the exposed and/or unexposed motion picture film. The motion picture cameras have a device for exchanging data with the storage device of the film cassettes and sensing the exposed length of motion picture film. Changes in the exposed film length are transmitted by the data exchange device of the film camera to the storage device of the film cassettes.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a system for detecting, exchanging andstoring data in a motion picture camera cassette.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,627,695 discloses a motion picture camera cassettesystem which has automatic measurement and display of exposed andunexposed film in one of a plurality of exchangeable film cassetteswhich can be connected to the camera body of a motion picture camera.For this purpose, each film cassette has for identification purposes acassette code which is assigned exclusively to this film cassette. Themotion picture camera has a device for reading and identifying thecassette codes, and a memory with a plurality of memory areas each ofwhich are assigned to an individual film cassette, and which stores thelength of the exposed or unexposed film in the film cassette which isassigned to the memory area. In addition, the motion picture camera hasa microprocessor that receives the cassette identification signals andto which measuring pulses are fed which are output by a pulse generatorconnected to the film motor for each film image running through the filmgate of the motion picture camera.

In this known motion picture camera cassette system, the motion picturecamera stores and varies the length of the exposed or unexposed film ofa film cassette which only has an identification mark that is detectedby the motion picture camera. This is disadvantageous because the numberof the film cassettes which can be connected to the camera and can beidentified by the camera depends on the length of the identificationmark and on the size of the camera memory. The length of theidentification mark in turn determines a corresponding number ofmarkings on the film cassette and sensors for detecting theidentification marks on the side of the motion picture camera.

A further disadvantage of the known motion picture camera cassettesystem is that the various film cassettes are respectively assigned toonly one motion picture camera. If a specific film cassette is connectedto another motion picture camera, either it is necessary for the data tobe acquired in advance from the motion picture camera originallyassigned to the relevant film cassette and input into the memory of theother motion picture camera, or to load the film cassette with anunexposed film of known length.

A further disadvantage of the known system is that it is possible toexchange data with a data-processing device used in film production onlyvia a connection to the motion picture camera. In this case, cassettedata, film data and production-specific data cannot be detected, storedand further processed, or can only be detected, stored and furtherprocessed with considerable outlay.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to create a motion picturecamera cassette system that permits the detection, storage andtransmission of data between a plurality of motion picture cameras, filmcassettes and data-processing device in any desired way and preferablyvia an individual data line.

The solution according to the invention permits data to be exchangedbetween an arbitrary number of film cassettes, with optionally differingmotion picture cameras, and data-processing device, and permits data tobe transmitted preferably via a single data line.

In addition to individual marking of the film cassettes and storage ofthe respectively exposed or unexposed film length of the relevantcassette, the memory device contained in each film cassette also permitsfurther data of importance for film production, such as a productionnumber, film type, film sequence, etc., to be input and stored.

By storing film data, cassette data and production-specific data in eachfilm cassette, the data can optionally be input and displayed directlyon the film cassette, on a motion picture camera or on a display of adata-processing device.

The electronic data-processing device serves, in particular, to process,document and display the data output by a motion picture camera or afilm cassette, and can, for its part, transmit data, such as, forexample, when loading a film cassette, the length of the inserted,unexposed motion picture film, into the storage device of the filmcassette, the input of a production number both into a motion picturecamera and into a film cassette connected to or separate from a motionpicture camera.

The data is exchanged between motion picture camera, film cassette andelectronic data-processing device preferably via an electrooptical ormagnetic transmitting device or via an electric line connection. Onlyone data line is required for serial data transmission.

It is preferable to use as an interface on the motion picture camera aninterface which is present there in any case, such as, for example, atime code interface, an interface for a video reflex monitor or thelike.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The idea on which the invention is based is to be explained in moredetail with the aid of an exemplary embodiment illustrated in thedrawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of the connection of a plurality offilm cassettes of different cassette types to two different motionpicture cameras and an electronic data-processing device, and

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the data detection, storage and displaydevices in a motion picture camera, film cassette and electronicdata-processing device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The connection diagram illustrated in FIG. 1 shows the camera body oftwo motion picture cameras 101, 102 with a camera mechanism, but withoutan explicit illustration of the shooting and viewfinder optics. A filmtransport mechanism contained in the camera mechanism is used to move amotion picture film intermittently along on a film gate, in which caseduring one film transport step a rotating mirror diaphragm or irisdiaphragm covers the shooting beam path and uncovers the latter duringthe image position for film exposure. A film cassette which accommodatesthe exposed and unexposed motion picture film is to be fastened on thecamera body of the motion picture camera 101, 102.

Because motion picture films of different light sensitivity are used inthe course of film production and, depending on film sequence, a minimumlength is required to carry out a “film take”, a plurality of filmcassettes with different film lengths and other film-specific data suchas, for example, different manufacturers of the motion picture film,film types and the nature of the film (black and white film, colournegative film, colour reversal film), film sensitivities and the likeare available during production. Moreover, various types of cassette,such as coaxial cassettes or single-chamber cassettes are also madeavailable, depending on the wishes of the cameraman.

For these reasons, the motion picture cameras 101, 102 can be connectedto various film cassettes 201 to 204, of which, for example, the coaxialcassettes 201 and 202 contain different lengths of unexposed films andoptionally of different light sensitivity, or are provided for editingdifferent film sequences. In the same way, various single-chambercassettes 203, 204 are available which may likewise contain differentlengths of unexposed and exposed film having, for example, differentfilm sensitivity.

Each of these film cassettes 201-204 contains a storage device in whichfilm data, cassette data and production-specific data can be stored.Film-specific data are, for example, the length of the exposed and/orunexposed film, film type, nature of the film and film sensitivity.These data may be displayed on the display 22 of a display and inputdevice 20 of the film cassette 201-204 and be input and/or changed by anoperator at an input keypad 23 of the film cassette 201-204. Such adisplay and input device 20 is, however, not mandatory. Thesingle-chamber cassettes 203, 204 therefore do not have such a displayand input device in the exemplary embodiment.

To exchange data, the motion picture cameras 101, 102 can be connectedvia a data line to the film cassettes 201-204 articulated on the camerabody. Furthermore, the motion picture cameras 101, 102 and the variousfilm cassettes 201-204 can be connected to an electronic data-processingdevice 3 for the purpose of exchanging data. Such a connection serveschiefly to document production-specific data. However, in the absence ofa display and input device on the individual film cassettes 201 204, itcan also be used to input data into the storage device of the individualfilm cassettes 201-204 and to display the data stored in the storagedevice of the film cassettes 201-204, just like the display and inputdevices of the motion picture cameras 101, 102.

The electronic data-processing device 3 can, furthermore, be used forthe purpose of data exchange with the data stored in the motion picturecameras 101, 102, and for the purpose of logically combining andprocessing various items of data received from the motion picturecameras 101, 102 and the film cassettes 201-204.

The block diagram illustrated in FIG. 2 shows the internal structure ofthe camera-cassette system according to the invention for exchangingdata between a motion picture camera 1, a film cassette 2 and/or anelectronic data-processing device 3.

The motion picture camera 1 contains, in a manner known per se, a filmfeed mechanism 14 which is connected to a pulse generator 16 which inthe case of intermittent film transport, for example, outputs a pulse toa microprocessor 10 with each transport of one film image. Themicroprocessor 10 is connected to a storage device 11, an input keypad13 arranged on the motion picture camera and a display device 12. Themicroprocessor 10 is connected via an input/output port to adata-transmitting device or a camera interface 15 which is preferablyarranged in the region where a film cassette is articulated on thecamera body.

An exemplary film cassette 2 contains a storage device 21 in the form ofan EEPROM, flash EEPROM, battery-backed RAM or the like. The storagedevice 21 is connected to a data-transmitting device or cassetteinterface 25 which communicates via a data line 5 with the camerainterface 15. The data line 5 and the data-transmitting devices orinterfaces 15, 25 of the motion picture camera 1 or the film cassette 2may optionally be designed for optoelectronic or magnetic datatransmission or for data transmission via a line connection.

In addition to the cassette interface 25 and the storage device 21, thefilm cassettes 2 provided with a dedicated input and display unit 20have a cassette display 22 and an input keypad 23 that are connected toa microprocessor 24 to which the storage device 21 is also connected.Via the cassette display 22 and the input keypad 23, a user can inputdata into the storage device 21 of the film cassette 2 and access thedata stored therein and display it on the cassette display 22. Theseadditional elements 22, 23, 24 are optional, however. What is importantto the invention is arranging a storage device 21 in connection with ainterface 25 for exchanging data with the motion picture camera 1 and/oran electronic data-processing unit 3.

An exemplary electronic data-processing unit 3 contains a storage andarithmetic unit 30 for storing and processing data, an input keypad 33and a display 32 for displaying data. Via an interface 35, theelectronic data-processing device 3 can be connected to the interfaces15, 25 of the motion picture camera 1 or film cassette 2 via data lines41, 42. Via a further interface 34, bidirectional data traffic can beset up with further electronic data-processing devices.

The mode of operation of the camera-cassette system according to anembodiment of the present invention is described below with reference toFIGS. 1 and 2.

When inserting an unexposed motion picture film, for example in the filmcassette 201, the length of the unexposed film and, if appropriate, thefilm type, the nature of the film, the film manufacturer and/or theproduction number are input at the input keypad 23. (Alternatively,lacking an input device 20 on the film cassettes 203 and 204, the lengthof the unexposed motion picture film can be input at the input keypad 13of the motion picture camera 101 or 102 or, respectively, at the inputkeypad 33 of the electronic data-processing unit 3, and be transmittedinto the memory 21 of the film cassettes 203, 204.)

While the film is being shot, the length of the unexposed motion picturefilm remaining in the film cassette 201 is continuously displayed, withthe motion picture camera 101 rolling, in metres or feet on the displaydevice 12 of the motion picture camera 101. In addition, oralternatively, the display of the unexposed film present in the cassettecan be displayed on the display device 22 of the film cassette 201. Thelength of the exposed film is detected by means of the pulse generator16, which is coupled to the film feed mechanism (film tooth sprocket) 14and, with each exposed film image, outputs a pulse to the microprocessor10 of the motion picture camera 101. The length of the exposed film issubtracted from the originally input length of the unexposed film, andthe difference is displayed on the display device 12 of the motionpicture camera 101.

As an alternative, or additionally, via the camera interface 15 and thedata line 5, the length of the unexposed film can be storedcontinuously, via the cassette interface 25 in the storage device 21 ofthe film cassette 201 and be displayed on the display device 22.

After the film has been shot or a cassette has been exchanged, there isthe further possibility of connecting the film cassette 201 to anappropriate adapter of an electronic data-processing device 3, and oftransmitting the current data from the storage device 21 of the filmcassette 201 into the electronic data-processing unit 3, where they arestored for the purposes of documentation and/or for monitoring theexposed or unexposed film lengths.

In the case of reverse running of the motion picture camera 101, thelength of the motion picture film transported back is detected andlikewise stored in the storage device 21 of the film cassette 201.

After removal of the film cassette 201 from the motion picture camera101, a single-chamber cassette 203 can be articulated on the motionpicture camera 101, which has no dedicated input and display device,like the film cassette 201. By inputting the unexposed film lengthinserted into the film cassette 203 at the input keypad 13 of the motionpicture camera 101, the film length at the motion picture camera 101 isdisplayed and, if appropriate, it is possible to input further film dataand production-specific data which are stored in the storage device 21of the film cassette 203. Here, as well, the data is transmitted intothe storage device 21 of the film cassette 203 via the camera processor10 and the camera interface 15 via the data line 5 to the cassetteinterface 25.

While the camera is rolling, the length of the exposed film is detectedin the way previously described via the pulse generator 16, coupled tothe film feed mechanism 14, and the microprocessor 10 of the motionpicture camera 101, and transmitted via the transmitting devices 15, 5,25 into the storage device 21 of the film cassette 203 continuously or,for example, after termination of a shooting sequence.

The further coaxial cassette 202 and the single-chamber cassette 204 canbe connected in the same, previously described way to the motion picturecamera 101, and the length of the inserted, unexposed film can be inputvia the camera keypad 13 or the cassette keypad 23. Alternatively,before the film cassette 201 to 204 is connected to the motion picturecamera 101, the length of the unexposed film can be input via theelectronic data-processing unit 3 and be stored in the storage device 21of the film cassettes 201-204, if appropriate with additional film dataand production-specific data.

Because each film cassette 201-204 has a dedicated storage device 21,each of the film cassettes 201-204 can also be connected to the othermotion picture camera 102 without losing cassette data, film data andproduction-specific data. With each reloading of a film cassette 201-204with unexposed or partially exposed motion picture film, depending onthe equipment of the film cassette, the data can be input directly viaan input keypad 23 of the film cassette 201, 202, or, respectively, atthe input keypad 13 of the motion picture camera 101, 102, or,respectively, at the input keypad 33 of the electronic data-processingunit 3.

A film cassette 201 to 204 having exposed and/or unexposed motionpicture film can thus be operated optionally, while retaining the dataassigned to the relevant motion picture film, in conjunction with one orother motion picture camera 101 or 102 or further motion picture camerasthat process the same film width. Thus, when the relevant film cassettes201 to 204 are connected to other motion picture cameras, there is noloss of data in the case of a camera malfunction.

What is claimed is:
 1. A motion picture camera cassette systemcomprising a motion picture camera, a film cassette containing at leastone of an exposed and unexposed motion picture film, and an electronicdata-processing device, wherein the electronic data-processing device isselectively connectable to at least one of said motion picture cameraand film cassette, wherein the film cassette contains a storage devicewhich stores an initial value representing a length of the at least oneof exposed and unexposed motion picture film in the film cassette; themotion picture camera has an exchange device which exchanges data withthe storage device of the film cassette; the motion picture camera has adetecting device which detects a length of motion picture film exposedby the camera; the camera has a microprocessor which based upon theinitial value of the at least one of exposed and unexposed motionpicture film in the film cassette and the amount of exposed filmdetected by the detector calculates a new value representing the lengthof the at least one of exposed and unexposed motion picture film in thefilm cassette; and wherein the data-exchange device of themotion-picture camera transmits the new value representing the length ofthe at least one of exposed and unexposed film in the film cassette intothe storage device of the film cassette.
 2. The system according toclaim 1, further comprising a display device in the motion picturecamera; and wherein a value representing the length of at least one ofthe exposed and unexposed motion picture film of a film cassette isdisplayable on the display device of the motion picture camera.
 3. Thesystem according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a display device inthe film cassette; wherein the value representing the length of at leastone of the exposed and unexposed motion picture film of the filmcassette is displayable on the display device of the film cassette. 4.The system according to claim 1 wherein the storage device of the filmcassette is loadable with a value corresponding to the inserted filmlength.
 5. The system according to claim 1 wherein the storage device ofthe film cassette is also loadable with data in addition to the valuerepresenting the length of at least one of the exposed and unexposedmotion picture film.
 6. The system of claim 5 wherein the additionaldata comprises at least one of the group consisting of: a film type, aproduction number, and a cassette identification mark.
 7. The systemaccording to claim 1 wherein the value representing at least one of theexposed and unexposed motion picture film length is input using at leastone of an input device of the motion picture camera, an input device ofthe film cassette and an input device of the electronic data-processingdevice.
 8. The system according to claim 1 wherein the data is exchangedbetween the motion picture camera and the film cassette via at least oneof the group consisting of an electrooptical transmitting device, amagnetic transmitting device, and an electric line connection.
 9. Thesystem according to claim 8, wherein the data is exchanged between themotion picture camera and at least one of the film cassette and theelectronic data-processing device via an interface present at the motionpicture camera.
 10. The system according to claim 9 wherein theinterface present at the motion picture camera is a time code interface.11. The system according to claim 9 wherein the interface present at themotion picture camera is a video interface.
 12. The system according toclaim 1 wherein the at least one of the motion picture camera and thefilm cassette are connectable to the electronic data processing devicevia a serial interface.
 13. A motion picture camera cassette systemcomprising: a film cassette containing at least one of an exposed andunexposed motion picture film and a comprising a storage device; amotion picture camera comprising, a detecting device which detects alength of the motion picture film exposed by the camera, amicroprocessor which based upon the initial value of the at least one ofexposed and unexposed motion picture film in the film cassette and theamount of exposed film detected by the detector calculates a new valuerepresenting the length of the at least one of exposed and unexposedmotion picture film in the film cassette, and an exchange device whichexchanges data with the storage device of the film cassette; and anelectronic data-processing device, wherein the electronicdata-processing device is connectable to the motion picture camera,wherein the electronic data-processing device processes data output bythe motion picture camera and outputs data to the motion picture camera,wherein the film cassette storage device stores an initial valuerepresenting a length of the at least one of exposed and unexposedmotion picture film in the film cassette, and wherein the exchangedevice of the motion-picture camera transmits the new value representingthe length of the at least one of exposed and unexposed film in the filmcassette into the storage device of the film cassette.
 14. The systemaccording to claim 13 wherein the electronic data-processing device isfurther connectable to the film cassette and wherein the electronicdata-processing device processes and displays data output by the motionpicture camera and by the film cassette and outputs data to the motionpicture camera and to the film cassette.